Chapter 14: The Result of the Variable
The setting sun painted the sky red. A crimson glow seeped through the window, illuminating Lee Yuyeong. Her clear, bright eyes held a touch of melancholy as she gazed at me.
"W-what is it?"
"So that's how it was."
What the hell are you assuming on your own? I flipped open my notebook again. No matter how many times I looked, it was just the same soccer tactics notes. The player positions, me placed as a forward. And below it, the bold, emphasized words: 'We can do this in the preliminaries too!' Nothing seemed off.
I glanced back and forth between the notebook and Yuyeong.
"Why didn't you say anything? That you were on the soccer team too, or..."
I had a bad feeling from the way her words trailed off, sensing the conversation veering into weird territory again.
"Yeah, you couldn't tell me. You must've been hurting too."
"...Huh?"
What?
"I get it now. Why you know soccer so well but say you hate it."
"Hey, Yuyeong?"
"Why you felt uncomfortable around me. And why your foot hurts so much."
"I sprained my ankle today?"
Yuyeong shook her head.
"Yeah, why your ankle got so weak."
Now she's even changing her words? Delusions are free, but isn't this deliberate?
"What happened in the soccer club?"
"Nothing much."
If anything, a ton happened when I transferred here. I just wanted it all to stop.
"You used to be so passionate about soccer once, and now you say you hate it."
"I just lost interest."
"The reason you feel uncomfortable around me... is it because I'm the soccer club manager? Being with me brings back lingering regrets or trauma about soccer, right?"
"It's not like that at all!!"
"Yeah, I've been too insensitive."
"That's why I'm saying it's not!!"
No matter how much I yelled and denied it, Yuyeong kept twisting my words. She thought I was lashing out because I'd touched on my trauma and was denying it.
"But Taeyang."
Her voice, which had been sharp all day, softened into something gentle and kind.
"Running away isn't the answer."
"I wanna run away right now."
"You can definitely overcome it. I'll help you love soccer again!"
Her words rang with sincerity. Yuyeong stared at me with earnest, sparkling eyes, like she couldn't bear to let me go. The sunset glow from the window lit her from behind, like a dramatic scene straight out of a TV drama.
So why are you filming a youth drama since earlier?!
"No, seriously, why won't you believe me? I don't hate soccer. I'm just sick of playing it myself!"
"Then start over from the beginning, like before you got bored. From square one! No, from zero!"
No, even quoting famous lines from that anime doesn't make you cool at all!!! She's wrong. This delusional otaku is completely lost in her own fantasy right now. She was probably imagining me leading the soccer club to victory in a youth league, hoisting the trophy by now.
"Yeah, only I can save Taeyang. I have to guide you down the right path."
Yuyeong nodded to herself, mumbling like that. At this point, it felt like obsession in a whole different way.
Yuyeong beamed innocently and stepped closer. I flinched and backed away.
"You're scaring me, so stop! F-fine! I won't approach Gahee noona or act like I know her!"
"Yeah, if you start loving soccer again, you can definitely shed that blond-tanned thug image."
"What kind of logic is that?! Soccer has zero to do with it! You're obsessing over something pointless!"
"I'll wait until you open your heart. Spending time with me will make you love soccer again for sure."
"F-fine! This ankle! Just like you said, it's weak!"
"Yeah, I'll help with rehab too. Our school's sports clubs have great welfare—they support player rehab."
That's good news, but I don't need rehab or anything.
Yuyeong stopped approaching when she saw me shrinking back. She nodded, as if reading my expression.
"Yeah, you need time to open up too. You must still be really scared. I won't push anymore today."
"Yeah, maybe cutting ties with you is best."
Yuyeong just smiled brightly at my words. A radiant smile, straight out of a visual novel CG scene, set against the sunset.
"But I won't give up. You haven't forgotten yet. That smile on your face when you wrote about soccer club activities in your notebook."
From now on, no reading my Love Chain notes in class.
I vowed that to myself, but I'd already raised massive flags in this study group episode.
After the study group, the weekend passed, and Monday arrived. In a classroom at Pulkkot High School, a few high school girls were chatting.
The casual daily topics flowed naturally until someone called out, pausing the conversation.
"Gahee. The teacher's calling you to the staff room for a bit."
"Okay! Be right back, girls."
"Sure, go ahead."
After Choi Gahee left, the two continued. Unlike Min Iri and Seong Juyeon, Kim Hayan kept her eyes on Gahee until she was fully out of the classroom.
"Huh? Hayan, what's up?"
"Huh? Nothing. Just got sleepy, hehe."
"Didn't sleep last night?"
"Whoa, scary transfer student. How much did you study to push us aside?"
"It's not like that~"
Yeah, better keep it secret just in case.
Hayan, who had been watching Gahee, forced herself to look away casually. But one suspicion lingered in her mind.
'Does our Taeyang like Gahee or something?'
Hayan had taken care of her little brother Taeyang for a long time, so she could read his unnatural behaviors.
When Gahee first told her about meeting Taeyang, Hayan thought, 'Was our little brother like that?' He'd readily gone to her house when invited and chatted animatedly, which was surprising.
But thinking about it, Taeyang got along with everyone at school regardless of gender, even if he was shy. And he had a friend with him then, so she let it slide.
What reignited Hayan's suspicions was the study group.
Taeyang was the one who organized it. Seonwoo had asked Hayan for help too, but that many people gathered because of Taeyang.
That day, Taeyang brought a girl home for the first time. He usually mingled well with everyone at school, but Hayan had never seen him invite a girl over first or contact one like that.
Yet he'd reached out to Gahee specifically for study help, even with his big sister right there who could teach him.
She brushed it off as Gahee being good at math, but the study group revealed more. He kept calling "Gahee noona~ Gahee noona~" and seeking her out. He'd glance at her during study, tried to sit right next to her, and looked upset when Yuyeong squeezed in.
The fallout with Yuyeong was weird too. Taeyang wasn't the type for extreme relationships. But he said it was just to avoid misunderstandings about him and Yuyeong.
One of two things: either there was another reason for cutting ties with Yuyeong, or he really didn't want misunderstandings... with someone specific.
If that someone was Choi Gahee? What should a big sister do then?
Hayan's mind grew complicated.
"Hayan, something wrong?"
"What would be wrong? Oh, Gahee's back?"
Gahee returned.
"Gahee, why'd the teacher call you?"
"Class rep said prepping for the learning materials is tough alone, so she asked me to help later."
"Yeah? Must be a hassle for you."
Gahee shook her head with a bright smile at Iri's sympathy.
"I'm happy to help~"
"You're too nice, seriously."
"Whatever, as long as you're satisfied."
Choi Gahee was kind. Gentle, bright, flawless. If Taeyang had a crush on her...
'Yeah, as his sister, I'd have to cheer him on.'
Hayan grinned and sidled up to Gahee.
"Gahee, let's get closer from now on."
"Huh? Sure! That'd be great!"
And so, Kim Hayan became a supporter of the "Kim Taeyang-Choi Gahee" ship.
On the way home, Kim Hayan, Choi Gahee, Min Iri, Seong Juyeon, and Choi Seonwoo walked together amicably—five of them.
"Taeyang's probably heading home around now."
"Yeah, practice should be wrapping up."
"Bored. Wanna go see Taeyang?"
"Iri, but don't you have club today?"
"It's fine, one day off won't hurt."
"Jeez... for someone aiming for college on athletics."
Choi Seonwoo, Seong Juyeon, and Choi Gahee split off midway.
'Taeyang'll be disappointed.' Hayan thought inwardly. Gahee's house was off Taeyang's school route.
"See you tomorrow."
"Yeah~ Bye~"
Unlike the three, Hayan and Iri lived nearby. Hayan's house was ahead, Iri's behind, so they usually parted at Hayan's.
"Huh, noona?"
"How was school?"
"Fine. Hey, Iri noona."
Iri grinned mischievously at Taeyang.
"So, where's your girlfriend?"
"Huh? Oh, Yuyeong?"
Taeyang averted his gaze and sighed deeply.
"What's up?"
"Nothing. Anyway, aren't you in club, Iri noona?"
"Skipped today to see you!"
"Don't use me as an excuse. I won't take responsibility if you flunk college."
"Whoa~ Harsh~"
"Gonna make your friend's little brother cover for you?"
After their usual lively chat, Iri thought to herself.
'As expected...'
Iri was almost certain.
'Taeyang definitely likes Yuyeong.'
On study group day, after the mart trip, Iri had sensed the subtle tension between Taeyang and Yuyeong. The way Taeyang blushed looking at her during study, turning away when their eyes met.
Hehe, middle schoolers with such pure, innocent love.
That explained why he'd cut ties with Yuyeong. Either picking a fight to get her attention, or avoiding his unfamiliar feelings out of fear.
Both attitudes were immature. If Taeyang didn't grow out of this childishness, he'd struggle with real love.
Guess his childhood friend noona has to help out.
Min Iri smiled and said to Taeyang,
"Noona's on your side, so tell me anything."
"Huh?... Uh, thanks."
Taeyang found Iri's sudden words odd but didn't dwell on it. He couldn't imagine she'd become a shipper for "Kim Taeyang-Lee Yuyeong."